Positioning device



Dec. 6, 1955 P. P. SMITH POSITIONING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Shea?l l Filed Aug. 28, 1951 WFL P. P. SMITH POSITIONING DEVICE Dec. 6, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28 195] m\\ w ml m. M ,m54 Nvvmwyd. z L fw m -m @L 5% mxmww@ uw /4 m w.%\ JT@ wm www NNN Dec. 6, 1955 P. P. SMITH POSITIONING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 28, 195] IN V EN TOR. 52

Dec. .6, 1955 P. P. SMITH POSITIONING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 28, 1951 fu immuun@ POSITIONING DEVICE Phillips P. Smith, San Antonio, Tex., assigner to the United States of America as represented by the United States Atomic Energy Commission Application August 28, 1951, Serial No. 243,965

4 Claims. (Cl. 214-23) The present invention relates to nuclear reactors and particularly to a device for charging bodies of lissionable material into a reactor without requiring complete shutdown of the reactor or of the cooling system.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new device for charging cartridges of ssionable material into a neutronic reactor. This is to be accomplished without requiring an operator of the device to expose himself to the harmful effects of neutrons and of radioactive radiations emanating from the reactor during the charging operation. In addition, the charging operation is to be achieved without shutting down the pile or stopping the ow of the coolant lluid through the tubes to be charged.

In addition to the objects and advantages above described others will become apparent from the following description and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a neutronic reactor showing the charging device that is the subject matter of the present invention in position to charge bodies of ssionable material into the reactor and also showing a discharging device in position on the discharging side of the reactor to receive bodies discharged from the reactor;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of a charging device illustrating one embodiment of the present invention, the device being attached to the charging end of a process tube;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, longitudinal, sectional vie taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view shown partly in elevation taken on the line `5--5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the charging device but showing the parts disposed in a position different from that shown in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view partly in elevation of the charging device; I

Figure 8 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional View of a telescopic hydraulic ram forming part of the charging mechanism;

Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 8; and

Figure l0 is an end view of the charging device showing the turning gear drive.

In Figure l of the drawings a neutronic reactor is generally indicated at 12. Because the details of this reactor form no part of the present invention, only those portions deemed necessary for an understanding of the invention will be explained. Accordingly the reactor 12 comprises a moderator 14 of graphite, for example, through which are disposed a plurality of horizontal tubes V16 adapted to accommodate therein bodies or slugs of ssionable material 1S, For illustrative purposes these bodies of ssionable material are shown in the form of uranium or plutonium rods at 18 in Figure 2.

a charging side A (see Figure l) where the slugs 18 nited States Patent O the face of the charging side VA.

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are introduced into the tubes 16, and a discharging side B where these slugs are removed from the tubes. Near the charging end of each tube 16 is a coolant inlet 20 which connects with a supply pipe 22 leading from a source not shown in the drawing. Similarly near the discharging end of each tube 16 is a coolant outlet 24 which connects with a drain pipe 26. Across the face of the charging side A is a shield 28 for preventing the escape of harmful neutrons and radioactive rays that emanate from the reactor. A similar shield 30 is disposed across the face of Vthe discharge side B for the same purposes. Although the shields 28 and 30 are shown to be made of concrete having perforations for the accommodation of the tubes 16, in actual practice these shields may be composed of a variety of well known elements suitable for shielding purposes.

On the charging side A is a charging device generally indicated at 32 which constitutes the subject matter of the present invention. 0n the discharging side B is disposed a discharging device generally indicated at 34 which constitutes the subject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 212,035, led February 21, 1951. Although the charging device 32 and the discharging device 34 are best adapted to be used together, each device may be used separately with or without other devices of a similar nature.

The charging device 32 forming the subject matter of the present invention is shown in Figure l suspended from a supporting apparatus generally indicatedV at 36. In turn the supporting apparatus 36 is attached to an elevator generally indicated at 38 that has a cross beam 4t? and a platform 42. An elevator structure 44 is provided to permit the elevator 38 to move vertically of the charging side A. The structure 44 may be mounted on wheels 46 permitting travel in a horizontal direction across In this manner the charging device 32 is caused to address the charging end of any one of the plurality of tubes 16 symmetrically disposed across the face of the charging side A.

` In addition the supporting apparatus 36 includes a hydraulic drive ram ,48v that enables an operator standing on the platform 42 to manipulate the charging device 32 into engagement with a nozzle 50 on the charging end of a particular tube 16.

Referring to Figure 2, the charging device generally indicated at 32 is set forth in greater detail. It includes a housing52 made of lead or other material suitable for resisting the passage of radioactive rays. The housing S2` completely encloses the operating parts of the charging device except for an aperture 54 extending from the side of the housing adjacent the charging nozzles 50. As the aperture 54 is seated over the nozzle` 50 a uidtight seal is created by means of an annular gasket 56 that is caused to abut a circular flange 58 extending radially of the nozzle 50. As was mentioned above,` the hydraulic drive ram 48 is'used to manipulate said aperture into the sealed position about nozzle 50.

Within the housnig 52 are the operating parts includ ing a cylinder 60 and a piston 62, a magazine 64, and means for moving said magazine including a pair of screws 66, a worm wheel 68 at one end of each screw 66 and a worm 70 (see Figure 7) engaging each worm wheel 68. Specically the cylinder 60 is disposed within the housing 52 in alignment with the aperture 54 in such a manner that as the piston 62 advances in a direction toward the aperture, an elongated wrench 72 moves into said aperture. The wrench 72 iscentrally disposed on the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 60 firmly attached to the front face of the lpiston 62 and having a hexagonal male member 74 on its advance end.

At the end ofthev cylinder 60 remote from the aperture`54 is disposed a means to reciprocate the piston 62 annees including a hydraulic ram generally indicated at 76 having several telescopic sections78, 80, 82, 84 and 86 shown nested together in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 8, the advance @ad` fl section. T8 is Secured ts the. back.. face. 01th.@ piston 6.2 lliitlrtll.r @mention ot the section 36 the Several: Sections each has; antaanulasanse 88, atits. end most remote from the piston 62'. Each flange 88 extends outwardly and radially of the longitudinalA axis thereof and is adapted to abut an annular shoulder 90 at the forward end ofl each section, except section 78, when` the ram is fully expanded. About the periphery of each annular angevSS is an annular groove 92acc on 1 modatingV an annular gasket 94. whichis. adapted to engage4 the inside surface, ofV each: section inI such manner as. to prevent` the, escape ofI hydraulic. fluid from within the ram.,V ln addition," a keyway-.96 is disposed longitudinally of the outer surface o f each. section except section4 86. Into saidI keyway tits. a key. 98 extending radially inward of theV annular shoulder 9i). (see. Figure 9,). At the end of cylinder 60. remote from the aperture 54, the telescopic section 8,6.isvmounted on any annular bearing 100 against which it is h eldby aitrunnion 102 which is integralv with said. section and whichy extends through an aperture 104, in the. end face of` said cylinder. An annular. gasket 106 provides a huid. sealntherewith. A bore ltlextending centrally ofl the trunniorr 102 is the passage. through which the hydraulic fluidH enters. and leaves` the. telescopic ram 76. Outside the` cylinder 60 a pinion 110 is keyed to the trunnion. 102. as; shown in Figures 2, 6, and 7. SaidIpinion is, part of the rotating means ofthe ram 76. Engaging said, pinion, is. a rack 1 1 2 that isrmoltivated. hydraulically by a hydraulic chamber 114.` having inlets 116. Thesedetails are; set forth clearly in. Figure l0,l The hydraulic` fluid. for, the ram 76, is suppliedthrough a conduit 11% whichA connects the bore 108. with a hydraulic fluid. source not shown in the drawing. By virtue of this rotating means, alinear motion of` the rack 112 is transferred@ toa rotational. movement through the pinionlli),fromwhich'saidmovement isA transmitted through the. trunnion102;,V and-,telescopic Sectiont to they oter. Seicerrl sections 73,Y 810. 82 and 84 via the. keys 9 8. and keyway 9g6, Further., the rotary motion-,is transferred tothe pi,s ton62,and the elonsafedwrenchn..

' In. itsnormal. position the ramjaisdisposesn. M011- tracfsd. position ShQWain. Eigurey 2... That" inthe Several sections `84, 82, 30 and '78, respectively, fittelescopially Withimeachuthen Arthe Sam@ timethe. forwardend (if.y the. elongated. wrenchv 7 2.. is. retracted; from. that. portion. o1 the: hOuSing- 5.2,. containing. the..V magazine 6.4. In

the. @minded position., as: Shwn in Eisure, the. ram. 7,6.

extends thewrenh 72. Ythrugh.a1-plus chamber 1.20.1411@- ure' 2)/ in said, magazine 6.4, to thef aperture 54. wherethe hexagonaly male member 7.4-may be seatedinto a. hexagonal borev 122,l which, is. longitudinally disposed, in a plug124whi`ch seals the nozzletll Y In'1 Figure 3 the mannery in-- which the plug 124i is mounted withinlthenozzle 50; is shown. 'lh'eplugE 1,24.

ir'rcludes` two integral. partis, one; beingi a circular flange; 126'd1sposed 1n aplanenorrnal;y tothe yaxis ofA the tube 16 andl they other being a. member 12.8disposedin said axis. and normal to said ilange. i circular flange 126.1iesthe hexagonal bcreJlZZ. Between the verticalv facesof the flange 126 andthe nozzle,5 0,is disposed an annular gasket 130 which serves to prevent the escape of: coolant uid within thetube, 16. In addition, a pair of bayonet lugs..132opppsitely disposed ex tend radially., from the cylindrical surfaceof the memb. r..1.2 Info apair of.corrcspondinabayonetgrooves;134

which, are disposed adjacent theA inside. surfaceg of, the,

tube 16 .(Figures 4 and 5,).

The magazine 64, as shownl inl Figure 2, includesfhefv plug chamber 120, threeY slug cliambers` 136,7. 1381 and: 1.40, leSPeClVelY, and-,a chamber 142; adapted; to; house airain rod 144. All chambersare disposezdiparallelltof At the Center. ot the the longitudinal axis of the tube 16 and are adapted to be aligned between the aperture 54 with the cylinder 60. Said alignment is possible when the magazine 64 is moved in a direction normal to the aforementioned longitudinal axis until each chamber 136, 138, and 142, respectively, is disposedW between the aperture 54 and the cylinder 60. The chambers 136, 138, and 140 are adapted to contain; slugs of fissionable material 18 disposed in an en-d-to-end relationship andA loaded through apertures 14.6 in thehousing 'which are` normally covered by lead plugs 148. At the rear of the chamber 12,0 is mounted a magnet which is disposed'against an annularshoulder 15.2 1t1..e.,ither.v of. which elements interfere with the movement of theelongated, wrench '72. The advance end of the ram rod 144' is rounded at 154 and in the other end is disposed a hexagonal bore 156 similar to the bore 122 disposed in the plug 124 and adapted to receive the hexagonal male member 74. of the elongated wrench72g.

By turning a hand wheel157 in Figure 2 the force is transferred to a pair of bevel gears 15,8 through a shaft to the worms 70. In this manner the magazinemay bel moved from. that position shown in Figure 2 to the position shownin Figure 6,: and the chambers 136, 138, 141) and 142 may be consecutively indexedwiththe aperture 54.

Operation of the invention begins with the loadingy of the slugs 1S of iissionable material into. the several chambers 135, 133 and 143 through the apertures 146 of the housingl S2, after which the lead, plugs 148 are secured in place. The device is then raised on the elevator 38 across the charging side A of the reactor 12 until. the aperture 54 addresses thedesired nozzle Sti. An opera-y tor standing on the platform. 42actuates a hydraulic fluid valve (not shown in the drawing) causing thefhydraulic drive ram 48 to move the charging device 32 toward the nozzle 5G seatingv the aperture 54 overv it and; causing the annular gasket 56 to abut, the flange 53 of said. nozzle in a {luid-tight manner (Figures, ll and 2). This position is sustained` throughout thebalance ofthe charging operation. Referring to Figure 2rthe drive ram 76 is thenV expanded from the position shown tothahshown in Figure 8 by. pumping hydraulic fluid into slaidram through the bore 1GB. At this phase the wrench 72 extends longitudinally throughlthe plug chamber- 121i` and the male member 74 is seated within the hexagonal bore 122 of the plug 124. The hydraulic chamber 11,4 (Figure l0),k then actuates the rack 112 causing the pinion 116i torotate the drive ram 76. As wasmentioned. above this rotational movement is transmitted. through thevarious telescopic sections to the elongated wrench'72, which inzturn so manipulates. the plug 12.4v as to rotate the bayonet lugs 132 from thelocked position within the bayonet grooves 134. immediately the pressure of the coolant uidmoving through the. tube 16 forces the plug 124 outiof-the sealed position. This is accomplished byv slowlymeducing the; hydraulic huid pressure within the drive ram 7.6,.toapoint below the, pressure of the coolant fluid Within the tube 16. As the plug 124.

continues Vto retract from the nozzle 59, the main pressure of the coolant fluid forces. the piston 62 to the fully retracted position, the plug12`4. lodging itself against'the magnet 150 in the end of the chamber 1 2@ remote from said nozzle. The coolantuidfills the entire housing 52 whereby itis possible to load the tube 16 .with the slugs 18, of s'sionable material.- Accordingly, charging may be accomplishedwhile the pile Vis under full power operation, the coolant. water circulating without interruption during the charging operation.

Upon removal of the p1ug12,4 there is an unobstructed passage Yleading from the tube16 to the aperturey 54: Ac-

cordingly, the operator turns, the handwheel 157 causingvv `The telescopicram76 is thenv actuated bytincreasing thepressureofthe.hydraulic fluid.

therein above that of the coolant medium against the piston 62 sending the wrench 72 through the chamber 136. This forces the new slugs 13 of fissionable material in said chamber to be charged into the tube 16. Upon completion of the charge the hydraulic pressure within the ram is reduced to a pressure below that of the coolant medium whereupon the wrench 72 is detracted from the chamber 136. Again the operator turns the handwheel 157 until the slug chamber 138 is aligned with the nozzle S and the hydraulic ram 72 is reactivated to send said Wrench through the chamber 138 thereby charging the new slugs 18 of ssionable material into the tube 16 behind the previous charge. This operation is repeated for the chamber 140 upon the completion of which the magazine 64 is returned to its original position (Figure 2) and the plug 124 is returned to the locked position within the nozzle 50 by the wrench 72. The charging machine may then be disconnected from the nozzle 50 and lowered to ground level in order to rell the chambers 136, 138, and 140 with ssionable material.

In the foregoing description of the operation it has been assumed not only that the length of the tube 16 equals the sum of the length of the chambers 136, 138, and 140 but that a full tube charge was in order. It is apparent however that this invention is adaptable to permit continuous slug-by-slug charging or segmental charging. Under the continuous slug-by-slug method, one slug 18 is charged at a time and if the reactor 12 has been in operation for some time, the tube 16 is filled with similar slugs which means that for each new slug charged an expended slug must be discharged at the other end. Depending upon the design of the tube 16 at the discharge end, said tube may or may not have a plug at said end. In the event that there is a plug the discharging device 34 here tofore mentioned may be used simultaneously with the use of the present invention. Under the segmental charging method, a portion of the tube 16 is charged at one time, which portion may be as high as one-third of the entire charge. Whatever the mode of charging, however, it is desirable to place the last slug charged within the inside face of the shield 28, that is, within the region of the moderator 14 (Figure 1). For this purpose the ram rod 144 is attached to the hexagonal male member 74 of the wrench 72, as shown in Figure 6, so as to give said wrench an extension. When it is desirable to return the ram rod 144 from the tube 16, the pressure of the coolant medium therein exerts itself upon the rounded end 154 thereof to expel it back into its chamber 142. In case of emergency, the ram rod 144 may be used to urge the entire length of the tube 16 of the slugs 18 contained therein.

Since certain changes can be made in the foregoing device and different steps may be employed in practicing the invention, it is intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawing and described hereinbefore shall be interpreted'as illustrative only and may be modified without departing from the intended scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for charging slugs into a pressurized tube carrying at one end a closure plug detachable therefrom upon rotation with respect thereto, said device comprising a housing having front and rear sides, said front side having an aperture in midposition, a cylinder mounted on the said rear side and in axial alignment with said aperture, a magazine movably mounted within said housing and having a first chamber adapted to store the plug when detached from the tube and a second chamber for holding a plurality of slugs arranged end to end, the chambers being spaced from one another and extending through the magazine parallel to one another and to a line between the aperture and the cylinder, means for moving said magazine with respect to the housing transversely of said line to bring the chambers consecutively into alignment with said aperture and said cylinder, a piston mounted within said cylinder and being expandible and contractible axially of the cylinder, an elongated wrench attached to said piston coaxially therewith so as to extend through the magazine to the tube when the piston is expanded and to be withdrawn from the magazine and the housing into the cylinder when the piston is contracted, means for rotating said piston when expanded to cause the wrench to rotate the closure plug into or out of attachment with the tube, and means for contracting and expanding the piston to cause the wrench to pull the plug into the first chamber or to push it out of the first chamber to the tube and to push the slugs out of the second chamber into the tube.

2. The device specified in claim l and further comprising a magnet mounted in the first chamber and having a central opening large enough to pass the wrench therethrough and small enough to prevent passage of the plug, the plug upon being detached from the tube by the wrench being forced by the pressure uid in the tube to follow the wrench on its withdrawal as far as the magnet, the magnet holding the plug so as to enable the wrench properly to engage the plug for reattaching the same to the tube after the wrench has pushed the plug from the second chamber into the tube.

3. The device specified in claim 2, the magazine being provided with a third chamber extending therethrough parallel to the first and second chambers and on the side of the second chamber opposite the rst chamber and having a restricted portion adjacent the end at the rear wall of the housing, the device also comprising a ram rod positioned in the third chamber and being too large to pass through the restricted portion, whereby the piston may be expanded to cause the wrench to go through said restricted portion and to force the ram rod into the tube, thereby pushing the slugs farther into the tube than is possible with the wrench alone, and upon contraction of the piston the pressure fluid in the tube forces the ram rod back all the way into the third chamber and against the restricted portion therein.

4. The device specified in claim l, the piston comprising a plurality of concentric nested sections formed to include an internal annular shoulder on their forward end, except the forward end of the forward section which is solid, and an external annular ilange on their rearward end except the rear end of the rear section, a hollow trunnion attached coaxially to the rear piston section and extending through the rear wall of the cylinder, the piston-contracting and -expanding means being connected to the trunnion exteriorly of the cylinder to supply pressure fluid through the trunnion to the interior of the piston, the means for rotating the piston being connected to the trunnion exteriorly of the cylinder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 428,749 Frank May 27, 1890 1,278,307 Cressler Sept. 10, 1918 1,607,269 Malmquist Nov. 16, 1926 1,979,507 Underwood Nov. 6, 1934 2,290,568 McIntosh July 21, 1942 2,523,025 Ieppson et al Sept. 19, 1950 2,578,760 Strickland Dec. 18, 1951 

